Plan to Capture Alisiya

The following morning.

"Excited?" Melissa asked .

"Yes!" I replied , perhaps too loudly.

"What a disposition…" Grinn joked .

"But... excited about what?" Cassandra asked .

Magichool library ," the queen announced.

We all looked at each other.

"By the way, I heard that my little sister stole some books when she ran away three years ago." Melissa looked at her sister.

"Do you want them back?" Cassandra asked, embarrassed.

"You can stay. I just want to check one thing," Melissa replied .

"I understand. I'll finish my coffee and bring it," said Cassandra.

Galadriel 's messenger arrives tomorrow," Grinn added.

I felt my heart race.

" Yumi ? Filna ? Who will come?"

Shana , in turn, widened her eyes.

In the throne room, Cassandra handed over the books. Melissa used a magic magnifying glass on the covers. Hidden letters lit up, like embers drawing symbols.

— “True information unlocked” — Melissa read.

"Really?" Cassandra frowned.

"The covers have fake layers. These Magichool books were forged by Kazen ," Melissa replied .

I felt a chill. Cassandra did too.

"Do you know this name?" he asked . Grinn .

" Kazen is the God of world one," I replied, my voice low.

General silence. Even Cassandra, who already knew, seemed shaken as she connected the dots.

"Problematic is an understatement. Let's open it," Melissa concluded .

She flipped through it. The vibrant text shimmered:

"A God of the Multiverse created seven worlds. Each world has its own God, who rules over and enslaves its people. One day, the God of the Multiverse ordered the gods to choose beings from their universes to receive fractions of their powers—the guardians of the gods."

Kazen , God of the world one, chose four guardians: one from the elven race, one from the demonic race, one from the angelic race, and one from the race of mythical beasts.

Loki , God of the second world, chose a human.

Choke , God of the third world, chose an alien .

Freya , goddess of the fourth world, chose three Ryzan women .

Alemung , the god of the five worlds, chose two Guerins .

Joanna, goddess of the sixth world, chose two Cirins women and one Cirins man .

Shina , goddess of the seventh world, chose a humanoid girl as her guardian.

I clenched my fists without realizing it.

"There is... a God of the Multiverse."

The weight of the revelation fell upon us like an invisible tide, and I knew, deep down, that the next steps wouldn't just be about saving cities or stopping murderers.

It would be about where and who is really pulling the strings of our destiny.

Melissa slowly closed the book "Origin." The dry sound of the cover echoed through the throne room.

Kairo became thoughtful, his eyes lost in the void.

Cassandra realized.

"What is it, Kairo ?" Cassandra asked.

"In the Magichool library there was a collection of seven books that I loved to read… it was called 'The Guardians of the Gods,'" she replied . Kairo .

They all looked at each other, surprised.

"Sister, did you bring this collection too?" Cassandra asked , turning to Melissa.

"Yes. I brought all the books from the library to the kingdom," Melissa replied .

"So where can we look?" he asked . Kairo .

"In that cupboard next door. Look in the drawers," Melissa replied .

We started searching. The air was heavy, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

After a few minutes, I found it.

"Here you go, everyone," I said, pulling out a set of volumes bound in dark blue leather.

Koharu looked over my shoulder.

— Actually… there are seven. — he said Koharu .

Melissa nodded.

"Let's take a look," said Melissa.

She opened Volume 1. The pages shimmered faintly, pulsing with magical energy.

Guardians of Gods – World One

Angelic Arthur — Currently sealed.

Beast Fangst — Currently deceased.

Demonic Lucifito — Currently sealed.

Elfsei Elfherinsei — Currently sealed.

Shana's eyes widened.

— Angelic Arthur is alive… and we don't even know where he's sealed. That complicates everything. — he said . Shana .

Melissa turned the page.

Angelic Hamarina — Long live.

Demonic Tetaracsis — Dead.

Elfsei Galadriel — Long live.

Beast Balmung — Alive.

Silence fell. Shana lowered her head.

" Tetaracsis was... your father?" Koharu asked carefully, confused .

Shana took a deep breath.

"Yes. He died trying to seal my great-grandfather," Shana replied.

Everyone was shocked.

Koharu clenched her fist.

" Then let's not let Lucifito be revived," he said . Koharu .

Shana looked up, her eyes welling up with tears, but with a new sparkle.

"You're actually pretty cool sometimes, you know?" he said . Shana .

Melissa smiled and continued.

Angelic Koharu — Hooray.

Beast Bill — Alive.

Demonic Shana — Long live.

Elfsei Celebrian — Alive.

The entire group reacted with surprise.

Cassandra blinked.

"These books update the status in real time," Cassandra said.

— Exactly. Let's see the one from World Two. — Melissa confirmed .

The golden letters shimmered.

Fedorova Karina — Status not updated.

My chest tightened.

"What do you mean my mother's status isn't updated?!" I yelled , feeling my heart race.

Cassandra placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Probably only the status of World One is updated in real time. Kazen is the God of that world, remember?" Cassandra said .

" Fujimoto , don't be sad. One day we'll find out what happened to her," Koharu tried to comfort me.

Melissa turned another page.

Fedorova Alisiya — Status not updated.

Satoru Fujimoto — Status not updated.

— What?! Kazen ! I don't know where you are, but if you're listening… I'M ALIVE! — I yelled, anger and frustration rising in my throat.

— Fujimoto , calm down! — Grinn raised her voice.

"Leave me alone. I need to breathe," I murmured, hurrying out.

I sat on the marble steps. The afternoon wind carried a heavy silence.

"Mom... what happened to you? Why does the whole world seem to be playing games with people's destinies?"

The tears came before I could hold them back.

Suddenly, someone sat down next to me.

I turned my face away.

"Sebastian," I said.

"Hello, young Fujimoto . You seem troubled," said the butler, with that serene smile.

"I bet they've already told you everything... so please, leave me alone," I said.

"Indeed, Mrs. Melissa asked me to come and see how you are. And, if possible, to cheer up the hero of the kingdom a little," Sebastian replied.

"You've wasted your time. I don't want to talk," I said.

"I understand. But then I'll do what I do best: listen to complaints without interrupting," he replied, good-humoredly.

I couldn't help but let out a small, ironic laugh.

"What if I annoy you?" I asked.

"Do you think I hate King Grinn and Queen Melissa?" he retorted .

I was surprised.

"If you can be more annoying than the two of them combined, then you'll truly be the champion of crybabies," he added, laughing.

I ended up laughing too, even with tears in my eyes.

"Sebastian... how can I be a good leader and solve all of this?" I asked.

The butler chuckled softly.

" Hahaha ! No one can give you that answer, my dear. We discover it by living, observing, and learning from the mistakes of others," Sebastian replied.

I was quiet for a few seconds.

Then I got up.

"I think I understand enough. If I want to find the answers, I have to move forward and keep smiling with my companions," I said.

Sebastian smiled, proudly.

"That's right. Now go back. Everyone is worried," Sebastian said.

I went back into the palace. The atmosphere was lighter now.

"It took a while, huh?" he joked. Kairo .

"That Sebastian always manages to cheer people up," Melissa smiled and said.

"He's really amazing," Grinn agreed.

"I have something to announce," Melissa cleared her throat, changing her tone.

Everyone straightened up.

"In a few hours we will set off on an expedition to the Giolal Forest . Our objective: to find Alisiya ," Melissa explained.

Max raised his hand.

"But the aphrodisiac isn't ready yet," Max said .

"And leaving the kingdom unprotected is dangerous," Cassandra added.

"The kingdom will not be left unprotected. If anything happens, I will sense it immediately and return in seconds," Melissa replied .

"If we find Alisiya , we won't fight right away. We'll try Fujimoto 's strategy . If that fails, we'll move on to Max's," Grinn finished.

Shana crossed her arms.

"And what if none of them work?" he asked . Shana .

"So... we'll either seal her away or kill her. But sealing her away is more likely," Melissa said coldly.

Grinn looked at everyone.

"We'll have two teams. One under my command, the other under Melissa's. The division will be done by drawing lots," he said . Grinn .

The king took the papers.

— First… Cassandra with me. — he said. Grinn .

"Hey! I wanted my sister in my group." Melissa pouted.

She drew lots.

— Max. — said Melissa.

Grinn continued.

— Kairo . — he said Grinn .

— Fujimoto — Melissa drew lots.

— Shana — announced the king.

" Koharu, " the queen concluded.

A few hours later, we set off on horseback. The people of Omeron crowded the streets to see their rulers.

"Wow... they're really popular," I murmured.

"One day my people will revere me like this too," Shana said with a mischievous smile.

Standing in front of the gates, Grinn stopped and raised his hand.

"My people! Let's go on an expedition, but do not fear! Your safety is guaranteed. And, if anything happens... the Knight of Judgment will protect you!" he said . Grinn firmly.

The crowd erupted in applause.

And so, under the golden afternoon sun, we set off towards the Giolal Forest, where secrets, shadows, and perhaps… the truth about Fedorova awaited us. Alisiya .

We tied the horses to the trees right at the entrance. The air was damp and cold; the dense canopy blocked out half the daylight.

"Now we're going to split up," Grinn said firmly.

The teams separated.

Team Grinn — Jamaka and the Echoes

"Let's search carefully. Any sign of her is useful," the king advised .

Shana bent down, inhaling deeply the scent of moss and earth.

"What are you doing?" Grinn asked, puzzled.

"She's tracking scents," Cassandra explained.

Kairo approached.

"So, Shana ?" Kairo asked.

"That's difficult. Her blood isn't one hundred percent succubus. If it were at least seventy percent, I'd pick up the trail easily," Shana replied.

Grinn agreed .

Shana whistled softly; three small, transporting demons took flight in circles, disappearing among the trees .

"What are they...?" Grinn frowned.

— Mounts and scouts of my people. Transmons . — Shana replied.

Shortly after, they returned, empty.

"Nothing from that damned Fedorova ," Shana growled.

"We still have the cave. If Alisiya went through there, she must have left traces," he suggested . Kairo .

"Good idea," said Grinn .

Grinn team arrived at Jamaka 's cave . The colossal bear lay where it had fallen , the rock cracked around it.

— Alisiya defeated Shana and Koharu almost in their original forms. Not surprising. — Cassandra commented in a low voice.

"Sealing is the safest way," Kairo concluded.

"I agree. Let's move forward," Grinn took the lead.

The Grinn team took to the streets; each splash of water on the bottom echoed like the footsteps of a giant .